Providence Civic Center
| "The Dunk" | |
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| Former names | Providence Civic Center (1972–2001) |
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| Location | 101 Sabin Street Providence, Rhode Island 02903 |
| Coordinates | 41°49′25″N 71°25′6″W / 41.82361°N 71.41833°WCoordinates: 41°49′25″N 71°25′6″W / 41.82361°N 71.41833°W |
| Public transit | Providence Station |
| Owner | Rhode Island Convention Center Authority (2005–present) City of Providence (1972–2005) |
| Operator | SMG |
| Capacity |
Concerts: 14,000 Basketball: 12,410 Ice hockey: 11,075 |
| Surface | Multi-surface |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | January 1971 |
| Opened | November 3, 1972 |
| Renovated | 2008 |
| Construction cost | US$13 million US$80 million (renovation) |
| Architect | Ellerbe Associates |
| General contractor | Dimeo Construction Company |
| Tenants | |
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Providence Bruins (AHL) (1992–present) Providence Friars (NCAA) (1972–present) Providence/Rhode Island Reds (AHL) (1972–1977) New England Tea Men (NASL) (1979–1980) New England Steamrollers (AFL) (1988) |
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The Dunkin' Donuts Center (originally Providence Civic Center) is an indoor arena located in downtown Providence, Rhode Island. It was built in 1972, as a home court for the emerging Providence College men's basketball program, due to the high demand for tickets to their games in Alumni Hall, as well as for a home arena for the then-Providence Reds, who played in the nearly 50-year-old Rhode Island Auditorium. Current tenants include the Providence Bruins, of the AHL and the Providence College men's basketball team.
The idea for a Civic Center in Providence had been proposed as early as 1958, on the site of what later became the Providence Place Mall. The project was proposed as a joint federal-state-city project, which would create jobs and bring economic benefits. However, the plan failed due to the inability to secure federal funds.
The plan was revived again as a statewide bond issue in the 1968 general election; voters outside of Providence soundly defeated the referendum. Finally, mayor Joseph A. Doorley Jr. pushed through a citywide special referendum in 1969, which passed. When this amount proved to be inadequate, Doorley pushed through another referendum in 1971, which also passed. The project became so closely associated with Mayor Doorley that it was referred to in the press as "Doorley's Dream."
The Providence Civic Center was constructed in 1972 on the site of an old jewelry factory. The opening ceremony was held November 3, 1972, with a Providence Reds hockey game. President Richard Nixon, campaigning in the area, was invited to the attend the opening, but he declined. In its first year, the center hosted concerts by Pink Floyd and Frank Sinatra, as well as hockey games and political rallies, and was considered a success.
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